Kalispell, MT: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Kalispell
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:25 am and sets at 4:46 pm: 8h 20m of daylight, a dark winter. The longest day of summer has 16h 05m, so the swing is 7h 44m.
When it gets better in Kalispell
- Earliest sunset: 4:43 pm on Dec 11, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:28 am on Dec 31.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 11.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 3.4 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 152 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 63. 63 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 48.2°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.
What to do about it in Kalispell
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 126 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 7 to Apr 8, so set it up before Sep 7.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 63 weekdays start and end in the dark. Use it in the morning, and if winter low mood is the reason, ask a doctor before you rely on one.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 27: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Kalispell, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 8h 20m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:59 am | 9:27 pm | 15h 28m |
| August 2026 | 6:40 am | 8:40 pm | 14h 00m |
| September 2026 | 7:23 am | 7:37 pm | 12h 14m |
| October 2026 | 8:06 am | 6:37 pm | 10h 31m |
| November 2026 | 7:54 am | 4:52 pm | 8h 59m |
| December 2026 | 8:25 am | 4:46 pm | 8h 20m |
| January 2027 | 8:18 am | 5:20 pm | 9h 01m |
| February 2027 | 7:34 am | 6:09 pm | 10h 35m |
| March 2027 | 7:38 am | 7:52 pm | 12h 13m |
| April 2027 | 6:36 am | 8:37 pm | 14h 00m |
| May 2027 | 5:51 am | 9:18 pm | 15h 27m |
| June 2027 | 5:37 am | 9:42 pm | 16h 05m |
Kalispell against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Kalispell (8h 20m, sunset 4:46 pm):
- Missoula, MT, 94 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (+12 min), sunset 4:50 pm (+4 min).
- Sandpoint, ID, 103 mi away: 8h 20m of daylight (0 min), sunset 3:54 pm (-52 min), on America/Los Angeles time.
- Hayden, ID, 118 mi away: 8h 24m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 3:58 pm (-48 min), on America/Los Angeles time.
- Coeur d'Alene, ID, 120 mi away: 8h 25m of daylight (+5 min), sunset 3:58 pm (-48 min), on America/Los Angeles time.
- Rathdrum, ID, 122 mi away: 8h 24m of daylight (+4 min), sunset 3:58 pm (-48 min), on America/Los Angeles time.